Covid restrictions on airports are coming down

Economy

Published: 03 Jun. 2022, 14:01 Updated: 03 Jun. 2022, 17:55

Covid restrictions on airports are coming down

The arrival terminal at Incheon International Airport on Friday. The government said it will be lifting Covid-19 restrictions on intenraitnoal travels. [YONHAP]

Air travel will get more normal, with airports being allowed to stay open around the clock and more international flights allowed to land.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said Friday it was lifting limits on international flights on June 8 as well as the 8 p.m. curfew for arrivals that began in April 2020.

The number of international flights permitted to land hourly will be increased from 20 to 40. International airports will no longer have to close for arrivals between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The ministry said the easing of regulations will increase flight choices and lower costs.

“I have heard that airline tickets have become really expensive and that people were struggling to find tickets for necessary travel such as business trips and visiting relatives,” said Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong.

Previously the government was planning to gradually lower restrictions depending on the Covid-19 situation.

It was hoping to restore international flight to 50 percent of the pre-pandemic level by increasing flights by 100 to as much as 300 every month.

By the end of the year the government was planning to have 2,420 international flights operating weekly.

In May, the government increased weekly international flights to 532 from 420 in April. At the start of this month, the government had already raised weekly international flights to 762.

Starting Wednesday, more international flights are expected.

Vaccinated passengers no longer have to quarantine for seven days.

From June 8, unvaccinated travelers entering the country will no longer be required to quarantine, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Friday, according to a Yonhap report.

However, the government said it will continue to require Covid tests for passengers coming to Korea.

Passengers also must take one Covid test within three days of arrival.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]